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New York City to Use Cleaner Diesel Fuel at Ports; Settles Violation by Reducing Emissions in Port

(NEW YORK, NY) Continuing its work to protect America’s waterways, the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced that it has reached a settlement with the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) requiring it to pay for cleaner diesel fuels for local marine vessels and pay a penalty of $20,000. NYCEDC was cited by EPA because it placed into the Historic Area Remediation Site material dredged from its New York City Passenger Ship Terminal without the testing required in its federal permit. Under the settlement with EPA, NYCEDC will provide $85,000 in credited funds to allow Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company to purchase special clean diesel fuel, called Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel, in the marine vessels it operates in the Port of New York and New Jersey. In addition, the company has independently committed to consider using the fuel in its marine equipment into the future.

“The city dredged and did not properly test material that they placed into the water. Such actions could adversely impact our marine environment,” said Alan J. Steinberg, EPA Regional Administrator. “The good news is that they have cooperated fully with EPA and now are taking action to turn this into a victory for the local environment. Emissions from marine vessels contribute to our overall air quality problems, and the new cleaner fuel will help cut that pollution.”

Anyone wishing to place dredged materials in the ocean must first conduct tests and meet stringent requirements developed by EPA and the United States Army Corps of Engineers. Should NYCEDC fail to meet the requirements of the consent agreement and carry out the environmental project by June 30, 2008, it will be subject to stipulated penalties.